CEO of Help Build Hope Haiti resigns in Reno

Apr. 21, 2011

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RGJ investigates

Following a tip, RGJ reporter Martha Bellisle examined a Haiti building project and its organizer, Michael Stickler. He and Help Build Hope Haiti continue to raise funds for the project, but many key workers have left claiming they are owed thousands of dollars; the Nevada and Texas churches that gave money dropped out after losing thousands; Stickler and his businesses owe more than $250,000 in taxes and civil judgments; and Stickler is being sued by some of the involved groups. Our initial report appeared Sunday, April 17.

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The CEO of Help Build Hope Haiti resigned her post after the Reno Gazette-Journal investigated the nonprofit organization and found that the group and its owner had significant financial problems and many of the donors and workers have left the project.

Kristen Ivey sent an e-mail late Wednesday apologizing to the reporter on the investigation, which appeared in the Sunday edition, for her communications. She said she had not been aware of the problems revealed in the story about Mike Stickler, owner of the Haiti project and several other businesses.

“I was hired on as the new CEO for Help Build Hope Haiti two in a half weeks ago,” Ivey wrote. “I just wanted to personally apologize. I had no idea. In light of the recent discoveries, I have resigned as the CEO for the Help Build Hope Haiti project. ... This is my last comment. Thank you.”

A message sent to Stickler seeking comment was not returned. A note at his business, Community Renewal Inc. and The Vision Group, said it was closed for the Easter holiday.

The RGJ report found that despite continued claims that the Help Build Hope Haiti project is moving forward, most of the key people involved with the project have left, churches in Reno and Texas have dropped out, thousands of donated dollars are gone, and Stickler and his companies owe more than $250,000.

The IRS has a federal tax lien against Stickler, the Nevada Employment Security Division has filed nine claims against one of Stickler’s companies for unpaid unemployment taxes, and he owes thousands to various companies that filed civil claims.

A church and building company that each donated $23,000 to the project sued Stickler last week in Texas, and a missions company filed a lawsuit Wednesday claiming he breached his contract with them and violated federal trademark law.